Craig on occasion talks about the "drinking culture" here in Montana. I never completely agreed with his assessment of the situation or completely understood it until now. Thanks to Gov. Brian Schweitzer">The Second Coming, or so his disciples think of him, I now understand what Craig means.Gov. Brian Schweitzer hand-delivered a new liquor license to the owner of the landmark M&M Cigar Store on Thursday, and used bolt cutters to snip the chain that has held the saloon's doors shut for nearly two years.
"It's great to have it open again," Schweitzer said after throwing back a shot of scotch. "May she never close."
Liquor is so important in our state the Governor goes to open the bar up. I understand the "drinking culture" now.
Schweitzer, recalling a breakfast at the M&M a few years earlier, talked about the unique nature of both the bar and its patrons.
"There were folks that were dropping their whiskeys into their beers, and it was 10 o'clock in the morning," he said.
{sarcastic}What a wonderful image and message Gov. Brian Schweitzer">The Second Coming is sending to the world and our own children, that hard drinking at 10 o'clock in the morning is a wonderful and accepted thing in the state of Montana. Is he going to endorse driving drunk next?{/sarcastic}
The liquor license could have easily been mailed to the owner, why was it necessary to hand deliver it? Publicity. Publicity for the Montana's "drinking culture." How sad the Governor thinks this is appropriate. The further we get along in his reign the more I wonder about his moral character and is it appropriate for us in Montana. I sure don't think so.
The depth and strength of a human character are defined by its moral reserves. People reveal themselves completely only when they are thrown out of the customary conditions of their life, for only then do they have to fall back on their reserves. Leon Trotsky
(who made my money in the Middle East and milking government payments - think mint)
Would someone rather have the coke-snorting and never ran a business he didn't ruin, GW be a role model?
I've never visited the place but if Kerouac found it 'the end of my search for the perfect bar,' it can't be all that bad now, could it?
The bar appears to be part of the history of Butte and as such I don't have a problem with Schweitzer visiting, and having a little drink to help christen the place, as I wouldn't have had a problem with Martz or others visiting. Hell, a drink at 10am could have seriously helped Martz, how shall we say, loosen up a bit
Mike
I guess I am just a little to old fashioned. I think a person's moral character is important to judging that person. I am not an apoligist and let such things slide. Our actions and words have meanings in this life since we will be judged by them forever. It is important to remember that and act accordingly.
I'm becoming a little more old-fashioned in my 'getting' older age as well, but don't think it's appropriate to judge the number of times a person visits a bar as having anything to do with their moral character.
Mike
An after-work beer or three could even lead to a blog posting.
The previous Governor's Policy Advisor kills the President of the Senate then lies about it in open court, the Governor destroys evidence in the case and Leo Giacemetto a former Federal law Enforcement Officer attempts to destroy and conceal evidence at the scene.
Yes there is a drinking culture in Montana. Must be why Craig reminds me so much of the pudgy kid who stepped on the court and got decked at the Pistons-Pacers game.